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Jurors in the murder case against two Savannah men Friday evening were sent home with instructions to return to court at 9 a.m. Monday to continue deliberating.

Chatham County Superior Court Judge Timothy R. Walmsley took the action about 6:20 p.m. after three hours of deliberations failed to result in a verdict or indications that verdicts were imminent in the trials of Terell Nelson, 20, and Germaine “Juk” Grant, 24.

They are charged with murder and related counts in the March 20, 2013, slaying of Achmed Kiwaan Williams. Both men have pleaded not guilty and jurors are considering separate indictments against each with largely the same charges.

Neither chose to testify.

The victim, 27, was shot five times and killed in front of a duplex in the 1110 block of East 54th Street. Six 9 mm and two .40-caliber shell casings were recovered at the scene.

“I think pushing (the jurors) on a Friday just tends to force a verdict,” Walmsley told lawyers before bringing the nine women and three men on the jury back into the courtroom. “It’s not going to be up to the jury.”

When the jury foreman told him that no verdict was imminent “at this point,” Walmsley summoned the remaining jurors and sent them home.

Prosecutors contend the slaying was an execution and that eyewitness Lester Seabrook identified the defendants as the gunmen.

No murder weapons were recovered and police never arrived at a motive for the slaying.

He contends that Nelson fired the first volley of gunfire into the victim and that Grant then stood over him and fired two additional shots into the victim before they ran away.

“This was cold-blooded. It was intentional,” Breedon said. “There is still no doubt.”

He conceded the state had “much more evidence” against Grant than Nelson but told jurors, “That doesn’t mean he’s not guilty.”

Grant’s lawyer, Assistant Public Defender John Rodman told jurors, “The state clearly does not have sufficient evidence to prove my client is guilty.”

He characterized Seabrook’s testimony as “self-interest and lies.”

Rodman said there was “no evidence” the defendants knew each other or the victim, urging the jury, “It’s all or nothing, ladies and gentlemen. Nothing is what this case demands. Acquit Germaine Grant.”

Nelson’s lawyer, David Burns, heaped criticism on Seabrook, telling the jury Seabrook was the “star witness.”

“They have zero case without Lester Seabrook.” He characterized Seabrook as a career drug dealer and a five-time convicted felon who had no regard for the truth.

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